Can opener



Dec. 24, 1935. HAUDENSCHlLD 2,025,103

CAN OPENER Filed May 24, 1955 Patented Dec. 24, 1935 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE CAN OPENER Harry Haudenschild, Maumee, Ohio Q ApplicationMay 24, 1935, Serial No. 23,298

3 Claims.

, This invention relates to can-opening devices, and is moreparticularly directed to a can puncturing and forming means.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a can puncturingdevice, which, in the course of its puncturing operation, will form aportion of the can into a pouring spout.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of thischaracter which is inexpensive to make, sturdy in construction andcertain, efllcient and rapid in operation. Other objects and advantagesof the invention will become apparent asthe description proceeds,reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in

which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device applied to a. can;Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevational 'view of the tool itself; Fig. 3 isa side view thereof; Fig. 4 is a central vertical section, with parts infull, of the tool in operating position on a can, and

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawing, the device is adapted to operate on any typeofcan having a side wall I and a top 2 united therewith as a closuremember. In the instance of cans containing liquids such as evaporatedmilk, fruit juices, lubricating oils, etc., it is desirable to open thecan only by puncturing the top and at the same time provide a pouringspout.

The tool itself comprises a; handle 4 which may be formed of wood, orother suitable material, in

. any desired configuration. A sharpened punch part 6' is connected tothe handle through its shank in any desired manner. This punch part isprovided with opposed converging cutting edges and is curved and reducedin width at its lower end, so as to present a sharp piercing point tothe can surface without decreasing the thickness of the stock of whichthe punch is made.

The curvature of the punch brings theinitial point of contact with thecan top 2 well inside the edge of the can so that the punch forms anopening of the desired size by progressively press-- ing out a tonguelike area of metal attached to the edge of the can.

A forming guiding body I having spaced guide legs 8 depending therefromis fixed to a side of the punch by rivets Ill, or other suitablefastening elements, so as to be substantially integral with the punchpart. The guide legs 8 are curved so as to lie out of the plane of thebody I for a purpose which will presently become apparent.

A can forming die part II, which is substantially V-shape incross-section, is also formed integral ith the body I and extendsdownwardly therefrom between the guide legs8 and is bent to lie againstand conform to the curvature of the punch part 6. While the forming partI2 is part of the body I, it is in effect a part of the punch, as itcooperates therewith to form the tongue out by the punch and the sidewalls into the desired shape. It will be seen, in Fig. 5, that the apexof the die part I! faces outwardly from the part 6 and extends beyondthe inner plane of the guide legs 8. 10 In operation, when it is desiredto open a can, the point of the punch G-is placed on the top of the canwhile the guide legs 8, which are longer than the punch, are placed incontact with the outer periphery of the can. The entire device is 15then forced downwardly so that the punch l penetrates the top of thecan; Continued downward movement of the tool forces the forming die l2and tongue into engagement with the edge of the can so that this'partbecomes distorted to 20 conform to the configuration of the triangulararea formed by the die l2 and guide legs 0, as shown in Fig. 5. The factthat the outer surface of the v-shaped die member lies beyond the innersurface of the guide legs 8 causes the 25 opening made in the can toassumetriangular configuration which is suitable for a pouring spout. Itwill be seen that the tongue punched from the top of the can in formingthe hole or opening therein is forced inwardly from the can 30 top andrearwardly of the punch and die member, so as to lie closly adjacent theside wall of the can.

While the invention has been described in connection with a particularconstruction, it should 35 be appreciated that it may be made in variousways and may assume various forms. It should be expressly understoodthat the inventionis not limited to the form shown, but may properlyinclude all such modifications as may fall within 40 the scope of theappended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent, is:

1. In a device of the class described, guide 45 means adapted to lie atthe outside of the side wall of a can, a punch member inwardly disposedwith respect to said guide means and adapted to engage a. can top andform a tongue from such top and bend it inwardly and against the side 50wall of the 'am when the device is forced inwardly with respect to thecan, said punch having provision for cooperating with said guide meansto form the tongue and adjacent side wall of the can into a pouringspout. 55

2. In a device of the class described, guide means adapted to lie at theoutside of the side wall of a can, and a punch member having cuttingedges terminating in a piercing point, and forming means adapted toengage the can top and progressively cut a tongue from such top, bend itinwardly and against the side wall of the can and form a pouring spoutwhen the device is forced inwardly with respect to the can.

3. In a device of the class described, guide means adapted to lie at theoutside of the side wall or a can, a punch member having opposedconverging cutting edges which extend gradually outward relative to saidguide means and terminate in a piercing point adapted to engage the cantop and progressively cut a tongue from such top and bend it inwardlyand against the side wall of the can when the device is forced inwardlywith respect to the can, said punch having provision for cooperatingwith said guide means to form the tongue and adjacent side wall of thecan into a pouring spout.

HARRY HAUDENSCHILD.

